Adjustable base for ledger trays



Dec. 23, 1941.

R. CONNOR ET AL ADJUSTABLE BASE FOR LEDGER TRAYS Filed Dec. 2l, 1940 l INVENTOR I Patented Dec. 23, 1941 ADJUSTABLE BASE FOR LEDGER TRAYS Roger Connor and Nelson VS. Welk, Athens,hio, assignors to The McBee Company, Athens, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December 21,1940, Serial N0. 371,128

3 Claims. (Cl. 248-149) Our invention is a new and useful support adjustable for various sized articles.

Our invention principally relates to supports for ledger trays such as is described in my copending application Serial No. 321,825, of which this is a continuation in part.

Although described to be used in connection with ledger trays it will be apparent from the hereinafter contained description that it can be used for any kind of article where it is desirable to have a set of more than one.

By the use of our improved construction it is possible to extend the base and yet keep the ledger trays level.

Our invention has for its principal object to provide an adjustable base for ledger trays so that as the demand for additional space occurs it can be expanded to accommodate additional rows of trays.

A further object is to so construct the base or support that when it has been expanded it will hold the trays level.

A further object is to provide means which will prevent the separation of the legs of the base from sagging even though there is no leg at its center.

Our means of accomplishing the foregoing objects may be more fully comprehended'by having reference to the accompanying drawing, which is hereunto annexed and is a part of this specification in which:

Fig. 1 is a .perspective View of our device in extended position with ledger trays mounted thereon;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the base;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 4. is a cross section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detail view of supporting means;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of an end member showing the locking means; and

Fig. 'l is a cross-section taken on line 1.--1 of Fig. 6.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the entire specification.

As shown in the drawing the base consists of a frame I. The sides of the frame Ill are formed by mating members I2 and I3, the ends I4 and I5 of which telescopically engage. The members I2 being formed of a channel in which. slides the member I3. The member I3 should preferably be fitted to the channel I2 so as to avoid any sag when extended. Registering slots I6 and I'I are formed in members I2 and I3. Bolts I8 and I9 which engage nuts and 2I are arranged to extend through these slots and provide means for locking the parts firmly together.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that by loosening the bolts I8 and I9 that the end mem'- bers may be moved towards or away from each other to accommodate the number of ledger trays which are to be supported.

It may be found desirable in practice to spot weld the nuts 2Il and 2| in place as this will make it more convenient, or the bolts may be provided with wings or knurled surfaces (not shown) for manual manipulation.

In some cases it may be found desirable to construct the base as shown in Figs. 2 to 7.

As illustrated in these figures the top fiange 'of the extension piece I4 may be provided with a hinged member 22 td compensate for the variation in the plane of the base due to the extension. When two mating members are extended then the hinged member 22 is placed on the extension piece I5, this will act as a shim and afford a uniform plane thus supporting the trays level.

It may in some cases be found desirable to provide supplemental securing means on the extension pieces as shown in Figs. 2 to 7 of the drawings.

When this form of construction is employed We provide a plurality of rows of slots 23 and 24 located respectively above and below the slot I6 in the extension piece I4, by either welding a stamped piece I4 with the slots 23, 24 to the extension piece I4 or by stamping slots 23, 24 directly into the extension. In the construction first referred to it is clear that the front of the base will present a smooth and finished surface.

`These slots should be suitably spaced for the desired adjustment. On the mating extension piece I5 we stamp or form tongues 25 and 26, which are more clearly seen in the detail views Figs. 6 and 7. These tongues 25 and 26 are arranged to register with the corresponding slots 23 and 24, and as the mating pieces I4 and I5 are pushed together the resilience of the metal will cause them to snap into their respective slots and lock the extension pieces I4 and I5 against sagging when the bolts` are tightened. Slots 23, 24 and tongues 25, 26 also prevent the base from being extended accidently.

When it is desired to extend the base after loosening the bolts I8 and I9 the ends of the tongues 25 and 26 canbe sprung back out of their slots and the base extended as required. It has been found that this effectively prevents sagging of the base even when fully extended.

Having described our invention, what we regard and casings, comprising legseextension members Y which connect the same, athrgh bolt one of said extension members Whlch extendsthoug'h a slot in the mating member whereby `when the bolt is tightened the base will be rigid, there being two rows of spaced apertures in one 'extension above and below the slot formed therein, aV pair of tongues in the other adapted to engage and hold said mating members from sagging when extended.

3. An adjustable base comprising mating extension members which form a frame, legs on each member, one of said members being a channel, the other having a reduced portion adapted to vtelescope within said channel, 'there being two rows of spaced apertures in one extension above and below the slot formed therein a pair of r.tongues in the other adapted to engage and hold said mating members from sagging when extended and hin'g'd means to compensate for the i'iation inlieight 6i said reduced portion when "15 said extension members are extended.

ROGER CONNOR. NELSON S. WELK. 

